Piper PA-20-125 accident near Koliganek, Alaska, April 15, 1995
On April 15, 1995 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-20-125, registered N7483K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Koliganek, Alaska (Koliganek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT IS A CROSSWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1995 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Koliganek, Alaska · Koliganek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20-125 · all PA-20-125s on the register
- Registration
- N7483K · registry record · serial 397
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED HE WAS LANDING HIS TAIL WHEEL AIRPLANE TO THE NORTHEAST WITH A PREVAILING 30-35 KNOT EASTERLY CROSSWIND. HE SAID THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE WIND LIFTED THE RIGHT WING, WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT WING TO CONTACT THE GROUND. HE SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY NOSED OVER. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED HE HAD TWO PASSENGERS ABOARD, AND HAD ACCRUED AN ESTIMATED 4,500 HOURS OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 300 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KLL Levelock AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 1,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 35 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.